BU Football Takes Down Millersville to Improve to 6-0
Running Back Eddie Mateo now leads the PSAC with 11 rushing touchdowns on the season after his three-touchdown performance against Millersville. (Bloomsburg University Sports Information)
The Homecoming celebrations were in full effect on Saturday, as the football team gave Millersville all it could handle in a 41-0 rout to improve their record to 6-0 on the season. Quarterback Tim Kelly displayed his versatility, as he threw for 155 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 97 yards and a score. Senior running back Eddie Mateo made the most out of his nine carries, rushing for three touchdowns and 64 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, outside linebacker Garrett Pope had a career game, racking up eight tackles, forcing an interception, and also forcing a fumble. Justin Shirk was a standout as usual, as he had five tackles, which tied for second on the team. In the secondary cornerbacks Donovan Morris and DJ Robinson were both able to get their hands on the ball for interceptions, as Donovan had two, and Robinson one. Safety Eric Schwartz contributed with five tackles and a forced fumble.
Early on both offenses were sporadic, as the Huskies and the Marauders punted on the first three possessions, and Kelly was picked off by Millersville’s PJ Santos on the fourth drive. The Huskies defense stood tall though, and Morris had the first of his two interceptions on the next drive, setting BU up at Millersville’s 23-yard line. After just four plays, Mateo found the end zone on a one-yard scamper, to give the Huskies a 7-0 lead that they would not relinquish.
On the next drive the Marauder offense was stuck in a showing of ‘Groundhogs Day’, as their quarterback, Matt Misley, was picked off once again, this time by Robinson. The secondary play has been much improved this season, and that certainly showed on Saturday. Robinson’s big play set up the Huskies at the Millersville 32-yard line. Mateo once again had his eyes set on finding the end zone, this time though, the Bethlehem native had to run from 32-yards out to find pay dirt. Mateo’s second score put the Huskies up 13-0 after a blocked extra point.
After a few punts from both teams the Huskies started a drive at their own 34-yard with just over five minutes left in the half. Kelly and Mateo were featured here, as they confused the defense with successful runs and passes. Kelly found tight end Aaron Allison for a 12-yard pass on the third play of the drive, and a 30-yard pass to Trent Daniels for 30-yards three plays later. On the next play Mateo found the end zone on a powerful six-yard run, to put the Huskies up 20-0.
Just as it seemed the half was going to end with just 20 points for the Huskies, Morris intercepted Misley for the second time, and gave Bloomsburg great field position at the Millersville 32-yard line. The Huskies did what they have been doing all game, and season for that point, and that is take advantage of turnovers. It took just five plays for the Huskies to find the end zone for the final points of the half, as Allison collected a Kelly pass and made a few athletic moves to run 14-yards for the touchdown. At the half it was Bloomsburg 27- Millersville 0.
The second half provided fireworks for the fans that stayed, as Kelly could not find any of his receivers on third-and-eight, and scrambled for 81-yards and a touchdown to give BU a 34-0 lead. After Kelly’s drive a few bench players got some much-needed time on the field, as they added seven more points to complete the 41-0 rout, and secure Bloomsburg’s place among the PSAC elite in 2014.
Only one other team in the conference, eighth-ranked West Chester, matches up with the Huskies and sports an identical 6-0 record. Oct. 18 features a trap-game for Bloom, as they will face off against another PSAC-East rival at 3-3 Kutztown. The KU defense is weak this year, but as usual the Golden Bears offense can put up points in a hurry. Look for this game to be high scoring, with the Huskies pulling away in the fourth quarter.
